Edward "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on march 12, 2007. The All Music Guide has described Eddie Van Halen as "Second to only Jimi Hendrix…undoubtedly one of the most influential, original, and talented rock guitarists of the 20th century.”